Fists set to fly at the Palace

INLSA

Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni.Boxing Press Conf. 030712. Cruiserweight Last man standing. Flo Simba and Thabiso Mchunu. Picture: Etienne Rothbart.

MESULI ZIFO

GOLDEN Gloves Promotions (GGP) yesterday announced details of a boxing bonanza which will take place at Emperors Palace on September 22, featuring all four of the Nashua Cruiserweight Super semi-finalists.

While Super 8 favourite Zack Mwekassa, who takes on Danie Venter, and a rematch between Thabiso Mchunu and Flo Simba in another semi-final showdown, are good enough to top any bill, GGP boss Rodney Berman has added two more mouthwatering bouts which have WBC world title permutations.

In the main bout of the evening, Hekkie Budler will face Filipino Florante Condes in a clash which is not only for Budler’s IBO mini-flyweight belt but will have a bearing on the next WBC title challenge.

Budler, rated third for the now vacant crown relinquished by Japanese Kazuto Ioka early this week, is likely to land a title crack in his next fight if he beats Condes, especially as mini-flyweight silver champion and mandatory challenger Denver Cuello is expected to be installed as the new WBC champion without fighting.

This will leave Budler in a favourable spot to either get an immediate shot at the title or at least be mandated to contest for a final elimination clash.

GGP boss Rodney Berman said that, either way, the situation was favourable for the little man with a big heart.

“All Budler needs to do is to beat Condes and he will be in a good position,” he said.

Besides the intrigue involving Budler, another clash on the card that will have WBC world title permutations will see former IBF junior lightweight champion Mzonke Fana taking on Sipho Taliwe in a WBC International clash.

Fana, who remains the only local fighter to lose a world title in the boardroom when he was stripped of his IBF crown for being unable to defend it against the Dominican Republic’s Argenis Mendez, is coming off a six-rounds stoppage victory over Vuyani Masondo to dust off the cobwebs a fortnight ago.

Although at 38 years old he is in the twilight of his career, Fana still wants another bite at a world title having challenged for the WBC crown way back in 2005 when he was stopped in two rounds by Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera before bouncing back to capture the IBF title twice.

And beating Taliwe will vault him into the title mix as the Aliwal Northborn WBC International champion is rated fifth by the WBC.

Berman said he was happy he was able to help Fana towards regaining a world title crown after the fighter pleaded with him to save his boxing career.

“This could not have been a better opportunity for Fana to correct the injustice done to him and we are happy we could help him,” said the man at the helm of Golden Gloves.

The focus on the night will also be on the second leg of the historic Super 8 when Mchunu gets an opportunity to prove that his controversy-tainted first round stoppage victory of Simba was no fluke.

This happened when referee Tony Nyangiwe prematurely stopped their first fight three weeks ago in favour of Mchunu, prompting Simba’s camp to file a protest with Boxing SA.

BSA recommended that there should be a rematch and Berman obliged.

“I am glad Simba is getting an opportunity to fight me again following what happened in our first fight because I will knock him out again,” said Mchunu.

Mwekassa promised nothing short of the spectacular victory he displayed when he knocked out Tshepang Mohale in one round in the first leg.

“I’m in full steam and no one can stand in my way,” was all the DRC-born stocky fighter nicknamed “Black Warrior” could say.